The Uefa anthem on Champions League nights is meant to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

But for many Manchester City fans, it simply raises hackles.

Indeed, as the thrilling notes of Handel’s “Zadok the Priest” blasted out on Tuesday night, it was almost drowned out by boos and whistles.

Newcomers to the competition they may be, but many Blues have yet to fall in love with it, to embrace City’s part in it, or to forgive Uefa for crimes, both perceived and pertinent.

Some stay away entirely, refusing to hand over cash that will find its way into the pockets of European football’s governing body, in which a traditional elite has undue influence.

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Many fans believe – with plenty of justification – that the eternally flexible financial fair play rules were a ploy by those top clubs to prevent nouveaux riche clubs like City, Chelsea and Paris St Germain from gatecrashing their private party.

If those new rules were TRULY about preventing clubs living beyond their means, and getting into the red, why did it also refuse to target clubs which had debt stacked against them?

Could it be because that would penalise Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, all up to their eyeballs in it?

Manchester United fans are bothered about the club's debt but Uefa are indifferent

But that is not everything as far as City fans are concerned. The way Uefa treated the Blues over the away game at CSKA Moscow last season was utterly despicable.

Uefa’s attitude to racism has often smacked of lip service – they have doled out paltry fines in the past, and then showed what they truly care about by hitting a player with a far bigger penalty for revealing the name of a sponsor on his underpants.

Now they have a sliding scale of punishment for clubs with racist morons in their number. CSKA fans are repeat offenders, and their stadium was closed for last season’s City game.

Manchester City and CSKA play in front of empty stands

That decision was taken AFTER City fans had bought visas and booked flights and hotels at great expense.